Furnace ash conveyer and disposal mechanism



Aug. 10, 1954 M. SCHLICK FURNACE ASH CONVEYER AND DISPOSAL MECHANISM 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 25, 1949 INVENTOR. ALBf/PT M JCHL/CA Aug. 10,1954 A. M. SCHLICK FURNACE ASH CONVEYER AND DISPOSAL MECHANISM FiledAug. 25, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ALBERT M JCHL/C/r ATTORNEY 10,1954 A. M. SCHLICK 2,685,853 Y FURNACE ASH CONVEYER AND DISPOSALMECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 25, 1949 I5 JNVENTOR. Fi 4 vALBERT M. 5CHL/C/f Aug-410, 1954 A. M. SCHLICK 2,685,853

FURNACE ASH CONVEYER AND DISPOSAL MECHANISM Filed Aug. 25, 1949 4Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

ATTOR/Vfy outlet pipe.

Patented Aug. 10, 1954 FURNACE ASH CONVEYER AND DISPOSAL MECHANISMAlbert M. Schlick, Bloomfield, N. J.

Application August 25, 1949, Serial No. 112,250

This invention relates to an ash conveyor, protem, or some externalpoint, and simultaneously breakup any large chunks or clinkers which maybe present, a spray of water being utilized to sluice the ashes throughthe pipes leading to the sewer or other. outlet.

The unit may be mounted in a furnace, with the hopper mounted below thegrates, to receive the ashes.

The removal of ashes from furnaces, and particularly the smallerhome-heating furnaces has always been a troublesome problem,

When the ashes are removed by hand, frequent shoveling is necessary. Theshoveling of ashes is a laborious operation, and tends to raise dustwhich gets into theair and spreads through the house, and unless extremecare is taken,

spreads overthe furnace room floor, necessitat.

ing frequent cleaning.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an ash conveyor anddisposal unit which will remove the ashes from the furnace, break up anylarge chunks or clinkers, which may be present, and sluice the ashesthrough an outlet pipe, into,

and simultaneously subject them to a water spray, which will sluice theashes through the A major object is to providean ash conveyor anddisposal mechanism, which can be produced and" installed in the furnace,at relatively low. cost, and can be operated, maintained and serviced byrelatively unskilled persons, over sustained periods; f I v Theaccompanying drawings, illustrative of one embodiment of my invention,together with the description of the construction and the method ofinstallation, and operation thereof, will serve to clarify furtherobjects and advantages of my invention. 7

In the drawings: 7 I

Fig. 1 represents a vertical section through the assembledash conveyor,processing unit, and disposal mechanism. r g

Fig.2 is a' plan view of the assembled unit of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the spiral con.- veyor, processingunit, and housing,. taken at 3'3, Fig. 1, and a partial side elevationof the unit.

Fig. 4 represents a vertical section "througha 6 Claims. (Cl. 110165)furnace, with the ash conveyor and processing mechanism installed.

Fig. 5 is a partial cross-section through the furnace, of Fig. 4, and aplan view of the ash conveyor and processing mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the conveyor mechanism and furnace, similar toFig. 5, showing the. conveyor drive motor and drive shafts.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section through one of the blades of the spiral rotor,taken at 1-1, Fig. 1.

It will be understood that the following description of theconstruction, installation, and operation of the furnace ash conveyorand disposal mechanism, is intended as explanatory of the invention andnot restrictive thereof.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals designate the same partsthroughout the various views, except where otherwise indicated.

The ash conveyor unit, as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, is mounted in acast housing 10, which may be located in the ash-pit of a furnace I I, ahopper l2 guiding the ashes from the grate, through an opening I 4, inthe housing, to a rotary spiral conveyor 15 and processing unit,supported in a substantially frusto-conical opening 16, formed in thehousing. The spiral conveyor could be cast of steel, bronze or otherhigh-strength material.

The extension end I9, of a long tubular shaft 20, formed integral with,or attached to the spiral conveyor, may be trunnioned in a shoulderedbushing 2|, fitted to the rear wall 22, of a cap 23, threadablyattachedto the rear end of the housing, by means of internal threadsformed in the cap, which fit the external threads 24, formed in thetubular end of the housing, as indicated in Fig. 1. A plurality ofsubstantially radial holes 25, may be provided around the outercircumference of the cap, the holes receiving pins of a conventionaltypeof spanner wrench, to tighten'or adjust the cap.

. In place of the radial openings 25, a plurality of flats may be formedaround the outer circumference, or the contour of the rear wall 22, ofthe cap, may be made in the form of a hexagon, or of other suitablecontour to fit the opening in the conventional type of wrench.

The front spiral blade 21, of the spiral conveyor, may be supported bythe frustum conical edge of the wall 28, of the housing, at the forwardend, the entire rear portion of the housing interior being enlarged toform a frusto-conical area, the sides of the frusto-conical areaclearing the balance of the spiral blades 30, in the conveyor unit. g

The ashes which are dropped from the furnace grate are directed by thesloping walls of the hopper l2, to a central opening 3! formed in thehopper, in communication with the space surrounding the rear blade 30aof the conveyor.

The diameter of the spiral blades 30 is progressively reduced from therear blades 39a to the front bearing tooth 21, the pitch of the bladesbeing progressively, simultaneously reduced firom rear to front.

This progressively reduces the space 32, between the blades, from thespace 32a, between the two rear blades, and the space 32c, between thefront blade Elle, and the front bearing blade 21. the blade breaking theashes up into smaller particles, and simultaneously compressing theashes into a smaller volume, thereby increasing the velocity of theashes as theyleave the front blade and enter an opening 34, formed :in atubular connection 35, threadably attached to a tubular extension 36,formed integral with the forward end of the housing, by means of theexternal threads 31, cut in the housing extension, which fitthe internalthreads of the tubular connection.

A plurality of long grooves'38, of semi-circular or other suitablecross-section, may he formed around the opening in the housing wall, asindicated in Fig. l, the grooves coacting with .a'series of V-shaped, orother suitable iorm of notches Ml, cut "in 'the circumference of the.spiral blades, .as indicated in Figs. '6 and 7,'to break up any largechunks, or clinkers, formed on the grate, and mixed with the ashes, whenthe rotor is revolved, the movement of the blades, and the progressivelyreduced space between them, breaking the ashes up into smallerparticles.

Water may be fed through'a longpipe 4 I, which is connected by a'fitting32, to a Swivlex or other suitable form of flexible coupling 43, theopposite end of which may be threadably attached to the end of the shaftextension by means of .a coupling 44, the water bein-gfed through acylindrical passage 45, formed in the tubular shaft 20 of the conveyor,to a plurality of small, substantially radial angular openings, ornozzles 48, formed in the outer wall of the forward extension 41, of theshaft, the wall 48, formed at the forward end of the shaft extension,sealing the passage G5,, and directing the 'flow of water through thesmall radial openings 36. Where additional water volume is required, anadditional small opening may be formed in the wall 48, of the shaftextension, in substantial alignment with the central passage 55.

The angular openings 45, located at .the end of theshaft-extension, actas nozzles in .deflec't ing the water from the central passage 4'5. Thecombined area of the openings 46 would be less than that or the passage'45, at the center of the shaft extension, thus increasing the velocityof the water stream, as it leaves the angular nozzle openings.

The pressure of the water stream iii-striking the small radial openings18 in the. shaft extension, forms a fine, substantially conical spray,which contacts the ash stream, .as it passes .from the outlet bladeZ'Lof the spiral conveyor, to the tubular connection 35.

The velocity of the water spray, at the outlet openings, combined withthe velocity of the ash stream, as it leaves the spiral conveyor, underpressure, sluices the mixture of water and ashes through the tubularconnection 35, thence through an opening in pipe 49, Fig. 6, the outletend 59, of which, may be connected to the sewage system of the house,.or to some other point for storage or removal, where the ashes are tobe used as fill, or for other purposes.

If at any time, the water supply is temporarily shut off, the pressureon the ash stream, generated by the spiral conveyor blades, and thevelocity imparted by the pressure, would force the ash stream throughthe outlet pipe -'over a sustained period, without assistance from theWater stream.

The spiral conveyor l5 may be driven by an electric motor 5|, having abuilt-in reduction gear 52., incorporated therewith, the motor reductiongear being connected to a long shaft 53, trunnionedzin fa pair ofbrackets 54, formed integral with, or attached to, the housing [0, by acoupling 55, a-shear'pinfifi, or other suitable type of torque-limitingdevice being provided on the motor shaft extension 51, tolimit the loadwhich may be imposed on the motor, should the conveyor be stopped'bychunks of coal or other obstructions lodging in the grooves 38, formedin the housing, and the notches 40 .formed in the spiral blades, asindicated in Fig. '7.

A spur, .hel-ical or other suitable form of pinion 60., mounted at theopposite end of the shaft '53, drives a mating gear '61, mounted on theextension end 19, ofthe spiral conveyor shaft, a Woodrufi key 62, orother suitable type of key or locking device, being used to connect thegear to the shaft.

As indicated in Figs. 4, 5 and .6, the entire unit maybe mounted in theash-pit of a furnace, the walls 63, of which, are of circular or otherform of cross-section.

The .hopper l2 maybe located in substantial alignment with a circular orother form of ring 64, mounted in the furnace'wall, below the gratebars, .an auxiliary extension hopper 65, of frustoconical outline,fitting into the upper end of the hopper I 2.

A substantially circular .ring 65, .formed integral with the upper endof the extension hopper may be attached to the furnaceiring 54 tosupport the extension hopper.

opening maybe formed in the wall of the hopper "[2, at the front end ofthe'hopper, in substantial alignment with the furnace door, .asindicatedin Figs. 1, 2...and Asa flap or door Ill, attached to thehopper by means of a hinge Til, beingmountedibetween a pair of sideguides .12, attached to theihopper wall, .as indicated .in Figs. 4 and'5.

A window 73, made of mica .or other fire-resistant, transparent material.may'be mounted in a frame Iormedin the upper portion of the flap 1B.

Undernormal conditions the flap is held in the closed position, shown inFig. 1, by acoiledtorsion spring 714,.or other type of closing-device,the :upperarm 15 of the springpressi g againstthe flap.

.A hook or loop. 76, or other suitable .form of connection, maybeprovided at the upper end of the hopper, door '10, .a flexible cablell, which passes over a grooved pulley l8, .rotatahly supported on thehousing [0, by a bracket .19, being utilized .to manually open thehopper door.

.A latch (not shown) maybe provided at the upper end of the flap it, toretain the flap in the contour of the other The flow-of water throughthe passage 45, in

' the conveyor shaft, may be started or stopped by trolled by anelectrically-operated solenoid 83,

mounted on the valve housing, the solenoid opening the valve eitherdirectly by means of a rod 84, mounted in the center of the solenoidcoil, or through a linkage mounted within the valve housing,- when thesolenoid is energized.

The flow of current to the solenoid may be controlled by the controlleror starter of the motor 5|, which actuates a switch (not shown), whichin turn, controls the flow of current to the solenoid,- thus opening thewater supply valve simultaneously with the starting of the conveyordrive motor 5!.

The unit while shown in a furnace of circular,

cross-section may be adapted for use in any other type of furnace. I

The auxiliary hopper. 65, shown in Figs. 4. and 5, may be constructed tofit furnaces of square, rectangular or any other cross-section, thelower end of the auxiliary hopper being of frusto-conical form to fitthe hopper l2, of the ash-disposal unit.

Where the unit is mounted in a furnace of square, rectangular or otherpolygonal cross-section, the hopper. [2 may be made of similarcrosssection', instead ofcircular, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5.

The housing l0 may be attached to the bed of the furnace by a pluralityof legs 85, attached to or formed integral with the housing, the legsbeing bolted to the furnace bed by a plurality of bolts 86, or attachedthereto by other suitable means.

The diameter and spacing of the blades of the spiral conveyor andprocessing unit, may be varied to suit the requirements of a particularapplication, the size and spacing depending upon the speed of rotationof the conveyor, the pressure and velocity required in the ash stream,and the amount of ashes to be removed in a'given time interval. 1

- The form, size and number of grooves 38, formed in the housingwall,may be varied depending upon the type of grate, the type of furnaceused, and the size of the clinkers or other large chunks, which may comeinto the ash pit with the ashes.

The number, size and form of the v-notches formed around the bladesofthe spiral conveyor may also be varied considerably to suit therequirements of a, particular application," or installation. V Y Thenotches may be formed in all of the blades of thespiral conveyor orconfined to the rear blades 30 w and .3flb,. of-the conveyor, the outerconveyor blades being left smooth. j 1' The hopper door or flap may bemade of sub: stantially trapezoidal contour, 'as indicated in Fig. 3,orof any other suitable contour, depend ing upon the size of theopeningin'the hopper, the size and form of the flap, and the method ofattaching the flap to the hopper.

1 The motor, may be fitted with a built-in'reduction gear, "or amotor,'driving a separate reduction gear unit, may be substitutedtherefor.

' Where a slow-speed moto'ris used thereductiongear may be eliminatedentirely, the pinion and gear between the motor shaft and the shaft ofthespiral conveyor, reducing the conveyor shaftspeed. vqt l 6 It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that my present invention is notlimited to the specific details described above and shown in thedrawings, and that various further modifications are possible incarrying out the features of the invention Without departing from thespirit and. scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for progressively breaking up, compressing and conveyingsolid materials of irregular form, comprising a tubular housing, theinterior of said housing being of substantially frusto-conical form,said housing having an openin;; through one side thereof, a hopperfitted to said housing opening, feeding the solid materialstherethrough, the interior of said housing having a plurality oflongitudinal grooves of arcuate cross-section therein, a conveyorrotatably mounted in said housing, the conveyor having a plurality ofnarrow edged spiral blades of progressively reduced diameter formedalong the longitudinal axis thereof, each blade of said con.- veyorhaving a plurality of substantially radial V-notches cut across theouter circumference thereof, each notch cutting entirely through theblade edge, saidconveyor being adapted to receive the solid materialsthrough the housing opening, the conveyor blade notches being operativeto coact with the housing grooves to simultaneously break the solidmaterials up into smaller particles, the conveyor blades being operativeto compress the solid materials, and deliver the materials through anoutlet opening formed in said housing, an outlet conduit attached tosaid housing, said spiral conveyor having a longitudinal passage formedtherethrough, with a plurality of angular openings communicating withsaid longitudinal' passage, and'means supplying a. stream of waterthrough said openings, the rotaryspray from said angularopeningssluicing the broken material stream along the conduit.

2. An apparatus for progressively breaking up, compressing and conveyingashes of irregular form from a furnace, comprising a tubular housing,the interior of said housing beingof substantially frusto-conical form,the interior-of said housing having a plurality of longitudinal groovesof substantiallysemi-circular cross-sectiontherein, a spiral conveyorrotatably mounted in said housing, said conveyor having spiral blades ofprogressively reduced diameter formed along the axis thereof, thediameter and pitch of the blades of said conveyor being progressivelyreduced from the inlet end to the outlet, each of said conveyor 4 bladeshaving'a plurality of substantially radial V-notches cut across theouter circumference thereof, the v notches being cut in a directionperpendicular to the longitudinal conveyor axis, the notches in theblades of the conveyor coacting with the grooves in the housing wall tobreakthe ashes up into smaller particles, the reduced space between theconveyor blades, compressing the ashes, the blades at the reduceddiameter of the conveyor delivering the ash stream through an outletopening formed in the housing, an outlet conduit connected to said opening, and means for supplying and directing a water spray into saidconduit, the water spray coactin with the conveyor blades to sluice theashes from the conveyor outlet along the conduit. 3. An apparatus 'forprogressively breaking .up,

compressing and conveying ashes of irregular form from a furnace,comprising atubular hous-. ing, the interior of said housing being ofsubstantially: frusto-conical form, theinterior of said "conveyorcoacting withthe grooves'inthe'housing wall to break the ashes up intosmaller particles, said #conveyor being adapted -to simultaneouslycompress the'ashes and deliverthe ashes through an outlet opening formedin the 'housing. a "hopper adapted to receive the ashes and direct *them'toward the conveyor, an outlet conduit connected to said housingopening, said conveyor sha'ft having a, longitudinal passage formedthere- 'through, with a plurality of nozzle "openings in communicationwithsaidp e f d in the outlet end of said shaft, means supplying .astream of Water through said openings, means flexibly connecting thesupply source -to the-conveyor shaft, and .means starting and shutting,off .the water supply, the rotary-spray from said openings coactingwith -the conveyor blades to sluice the ash stream from the'conveyoroutlet along .the conduit.

4. Anapparatus for progressively breaking up, compressing andconveyingsolid materials of irregular form; comprising-a tubularhousing, the interior of said :housing being of substantiallyfrusto-conical form, a :spiral conveyor of Truste conical form, havingspiralblades offprogressively reduced diameter formed along'theaxisthereof, rotatably :supported in said housing, $118W311 of "said'housing, "around the conveyor, having a plurality of substantiallyradial, longitudinal grooves formed therein, the blades of 1 saidconveyor having a :plurality of radial -V-shape'd notches formed through"the outer circumference thereof, said'v shaped notches coaoting withthe grooves :in "the housing to break the :solid materials up intosmaller particles, said conveyor being adapted to simultaneouslycompress the solid materials, 1 and deliver the broken materials,through anoutlet'opening :formed in'the'housin'g, arhopper adapted tocollect the solid materials, and direct them toward the-conveyor blades,1 one wall of said hopper having :an openingfformed therethrougnmeansclosing said opening pivotally'attached to thehopper, means retainingsaid olosingmeans inthe 'closed'position, andLan' outlet conduitattached :to the housing in communication with thelhousingopening saidsolid material stream :passing from the conveyor through the outletopening, thencethrough the conduitpthe progressively reduced diameter ofthe conveyor blades being operative to force the broken material streamfrom the conveyor outlet through the conduit.

:5. rln apparatus'for progressively breaking up, compressing andconveyin ashes of irregular formfrom =a furnacacomprisin'g a tubularhousing, the interior of said housing being of substantiallyfrusto-coni'c'al form,-the interior of said housing havingaiplura'lity'of longitudinal grooves of substantially semi-circularcross-sectionthere in, :a spiral conveyor or frusto-conlcdl contour 8:rotatably mounted within lthe housing, said :conyeyor having spiralblades o'f progressively "reduced diameter iformed :along ath'e axisthereof, a shaft formed integral "with said ricon veyor, a motor adaptedto "drive said :conveyor 'shaft, means *operativly connecting the motorshaft to the conveyor r'shaft, means reducing the "speed "of said motor,the pitc'h-ofith'e blades of saidcom -veyor being progressively reducedfrom the =inlet end to the'outletiendgeachiotsaid conveyor liladeshaving a plurality of v n'o't'ches out through the outer circumference-thereof, the ll-notches being located ina directionperpendicular to thelongitudinal blade "axis, the blade V-'notches being "operative to coastwith the longitudinal *housingtgrooves tobreak the ashesup into smallerparticles, a substantially cylindricalshaftdorrihid integral with saidconveyor, saidconveyor blades compressing the ashes into Zth'e reducedspace between the blades, the ashes being delivered at the outletend ofsaid conveyor #through an openingtformed in the housing, ahopperattach'ed to said housing, said hopperireceiving the "ashes anddirecting them toward the inlet end of the conveyor,-a conduitattached'to thei housing incommunication with said housing opening,saidconveyorshaft having a longitudinal passage formed therethrough,with a iplurality r of substantially radial openings in'communication'yviththe longitudinal passageg formed adjacent the end of*the shaft, means directing a liquid stream through said openings,:rneans flexibly connecting the liquid supply line'to theconveyor shaft,the'rotary spray from saidopeningsgcoadting with the'con- 'veyor bladestos'luice the :a'sh stream from the conveyor ou'tlet along the conduit.

6. An apparatus for progressively breaking up, compressing and conveyingsolid materials of irregular :form, comprising a tubular "housing, with'a :liquid supply line iconnected "to the housing, the interior of saidhousing being of substantially frusto conical form, "the frusto oonica'linterior of said "housing having a plurality "oi longitudinal :grooves:of substantially semicircular cross-section therein, a spiral conveyorof frusto con'ical contour 'rotatably :mounted 'in the interior-of thehousing, said conveyor having a plurality of relatively narrow edgedblades or progressivelyreduced diameter formed along "the axis thereof,the pitch "of the blades being progressively reduced from the inlet tothe outlet end, each of said conveyor "blades having a plurality IofV-rn'otches cut through the outer circumferen'ce thereof, -thev-notch'es being out in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal"conveyor axis, a shaft formed integral with said c'onveyor blades, theconveyor blade notches being operative to ooactwith the housing groovesto break the solid materials up into smaller particles, said bladessimultaneously compressing the material into the reduced space betweenthe blades, and delivering the material at the outlet end, through anopening formed in the housing interior, a-conduit attached to the outletend of the housing, incommunication with the interior thereof, saidconveyor shaft having a longitudinal passage formed therethroug-h, witha plurality ofsubstantially :radial openings inseammunication with thelongitudinalpassage, formed adjacent the end-of the-shaft,-mean'sdirecting a stream of water through said openings, means flexiblyconnecting the liquid sup'ply time to the conveyor shaft, the rotaryspray f'roin said openings coacting with the conveyor blades to forcethe material from the conveyor outlet, through Number Name Date theconduit. 1,476,260 McFeely Dec. 4, 1923 1,698,113 Van Brunt Jan. 8, 1929References Cited in the file of this patent 1,714,11 7 Williams May 1, 1UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,883,578 Cody Oct. 18, 1932 t 1,988,473 BennettJan. 22, 1935 Number Name J 2 2,069,940 Burton Feb. 9, 1937 19102,121,229 Halter June 21, 1938 985480 Wallis i 1911 2,124,317Schweickawt July 19, 1938 10 2,367,558 Badenhausen- June 16, 19451,085,001 Anderson et a1. Jan. 20, 1914

